Decorative base for lamps and the



Dec. 9, 1941. H. M. LAXER DECORATIVE BASE FOR LAMPS AND THE LIKE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Dec. 11, 1940 INVENTOR. HARRY N LAXER AITTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 DECORATIVE BASE FOR LAMPS AND THE LIKE AND SAME METHOD OF MAKING THE Harry M. Laxer, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Idealite,

Inc., New York, N. York Y., a corporation of New Application December 11, 1940, Serial No. 369,584

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in decorative glass or plastic articles and methods for producing the same, being particularly directed to decorative bases for lamps or vases, plaques and the like, simulating in appearance decorative porcelains.

As is well known in the art, up to the present time plaques, bases for lamps, vases, or the like, wherein colored designs within backgrounds are desired to provide decorative porcelains or porcelain effects, generally have been made from nontransparent or non-translucent clay, or like siliceous plastics, in one instance, as by applying designs on the exterior or front faces thereof, or on opaque background coatings previously applied to the exterior or front surfaces thereof, by hand painting with fusible ceramic colors or with ceramic decalcomania, and firing in a kiln; or by firing the design and background on the unglazed body and applying a ceramic glaze and background. Both methods are expensive; the first of these methods being unsatisfactory, in that the products are subjected to damage by friction and abrasion, and the second method involves an intricate, delicate and very costly operation.

It is a purpose of this invention to form by my method and from glass or plastic material having properties of transparency or translucency, a decorative article, whether flat or hollow, in the nature of a plaque, decorative lamp base, vase or the like, effectively simulating the decorative porcelain effect produced heretofore with clay, plastics or the like, by treating the interior or rear surface of the translucent or transparent glass or plastic material of like properties with a medium incorporating a decorative color design superimposed by a background medium in the nature of a paint or lacquer coating in such a manner as to render the appearance of the article from the front or exterior of the same under reflection or refraction of light rays, in simulation of an artistically decorated porcelain.

Further, it is an object of this invention to treat a hollow transparent glass or plastic article of similar properties, such as a vase, lamp base or fiat plaque respectively at its interior or rear thereof, with a decalcomania carrying a design defining a decorative medium within a zone or section thereof, the same being disposed within an opaque medium defining a background comprising an opaque coating, the article by virtue of the transparency and translucency of the body thereof between its exterior and interior, or the front and rear surfaces thereof, having the appearance under reflection and refraction of light, through the exterior or front, towards the decorated interior or rear, in simulation of a decorative porcelain.

Specifically, it is an object of this invention to treat a hollow transparent glass or plastic article of similar properties, such as a vase, lamp base or flat plaque, respectively at the interior or rear thereof with a decalcomania carrying a colored design defining a decorative medium within a zone or section thereof, the colored portion of the design being imprinted with a transparent or translucent ink, and having applied as by imprinting in superimposition rearwardly thereof a white opaque backing, and the thus backed decalcomania design having applied or superimposed rearwardly thereof a paint or lacquer coating which extends throughout the interior or rear of the article to define a background, the article by virtue of the transparency and translucency of the body thereof between its exterior and interior or the front and rear surfaces thereof having the appearance under reflection and refraction of light, through the exterior or front, towards the decorated interior or rear, in simulation of a decorative porcelain.

These and other advantages, capabilities and features of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hollow transparent 'or translucent glass or plastic article preliminary to treatment in accordance with one v embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 represents a decorative decalcomania mounted, on its support prior to use in accordance with my invention.

Figure 3 represents the decorative decalcomania removed from its support.

Figure 4 is an end elevation in section taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 represents an interior perspective View along a transverse section of the glass or similar article, to which an adhesive has been applied.

Figure 6 represents an interior perspective view along a transverse section of the glass or plastic article to which the decorative decalcomania has been applied.

Figure 7 represents an interior perspective view along the transverse section of the glass or plastic article of Figure 6, to which an opaque coating has been applied throughout its interior surface.

Figure 8 is a perspective exterior view of the completed decorated article.

Figure 9 is a plan view taken in section along lines 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the reference characters in the drawing, showing one embodiment of myinvention, numeral l6 represents an article of commerce, preferably a hollow vase or the like, serving as a lamp base, the same being formed of translucent or transparent glass or a plastic material of like properties of reflection and refraction.

In Figures 2, 3 and-4 there is disclosed in accordance with my invention, a decalcomania assembly which may be applied to serve as a decorative element for the interior of the base or lamp base, such decalcomania assembly being of the so-called face down type, and comprising a transparent mounting film ll having im-' printed on one face thereof in superimposition respectively a decorative design section [2, of various colorations, and an opaque coating l3,- preferably white, serving as a backing for the colored design; the mounting 'film being attached during the printing operations thereon at its non-imprinted face by means of 'a soluble adhesive to a support [4, such as paper board or the like. i

In carrying out my invention I remove the mounting film ll incorporating on one face thereof the superimposed imprinted sections from its support 14 by immersing the same in a solution serving as a solvent for the adhesive. Thereafter, I apply a coating l5 of adhesive to the interior of the vase or similar article ID at the portion thereof to which the mounting film 'H is applied at its non-imprinted face, although I have found that there is normally sufficient amount of adhesive remaining on the non-imprinted face of the mounting film ll after removalthereof from its support M to adequately provide for firm application of the: mounting film at its non-imprinted face to the both the imprinted face of the decalcomania element now adhering to the predetermined interior surface thereof, and to the remaining interior surface of the vase or like article ID.

Although I have described the decalcomania element shown in Figures 2 to 4 as having imprinted design l2 and a white opaque backing l3 in superimposition on the mounting film H, I may apply my design in any other manner, as for example, by providing for a mounting film carrying an imprinted colored design applied at its non-imprinted face to the interior surface of the glass'or similar article ID, and thereafter applying the white opaque backing l3 for the" colored portion of the design by hand, brush, spray or any other manner, and thereafter apply the opaque background coating [6 either for the remainder of the interior surface of the glass or similar article I0, or in superimposition of the entire interior thereof, it being essential, however, that the colored decorative design l2 imprinted on the transparent mounting film ll should bein transparent or translucent ink and should at all times be backed by a white or substantially white opaque coating l3 in order that such design may appear in its true color value front or exterior to the rear or interior thereof, v

a decorative efiect in simulation of porcelain.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A simulated porcelain article comprising a non-planar body of transparent or translucent glass of like properties under reflected or refracted light, having applied on the face thereof distant from a source of light a decorative design of non-vitreous coloring material, an opaque coating of one color disposed to the rear of the decorative design to form a backing therefor and an opaque coating of another color disposed substantially along the entire surface of the aforesaid face and in superimposition of the backed design thereon to form a background.

2. A simulated porcelain article comprising a non-planar body of transparent or translucent glass of like properties under reflected or refracted light having applied on the face thereof distant from a source of light a decorative decalcomania formed of a transparent mounting film'carrying a colored design of non-vitreous material backedby an opaque coating of one color, and an opaque coating of another color disposed substantially along the entire surface of the aforesaid face and in superimposition of the decorative decalcomania thereon, to form a background.

3. A method of forming a decorative article from a non-planar transparent or translucent glass or plastic material of like properties under reflected or refracted light, which comprises mounting on the face thereof distant from a source of light, a colored design of non-vitreous material backed by an opaque coating and thereafter applying to substantially the entire aforesaid face an opaque coating as a backing therefor and to the applied design, whereby to provide an effect when viewed from the other face and through the body of the material, in simulation of decorative porcelain.

4:. A method of forminga decorative article Home non-planar transparent or translucent glass or plastic material of like properties under reflected or refracted light, which comprises applying at the face thereof distant from a source of light, a decalcomania incorporating a colored design of non-vitreous material backed by an opaque coating and thereafter applying to substantially the entire aforesaid face an opaque coating, as a backing therefor and to the applied decalcomania, whereby to provide an effect when viewed from the other face and through the body of the material, in simulation of decorative porcelain.

5. A method of forming a decorative article from a non-planar transparent or translucent glass or plastic material of like properties under reflected or refracted light, which comprises applying at the face thereof distant from a source of light, a decalcomania incorporating a colored design of non-vitreous material backed by an opaque coating of one color and thereafter applying to substantially the entire aforesaid face an opaque coating of another color as a backing Y therefor and to the applied decalcomania, whereill by to provide an effect when viewed from the other face and through the body of the material, in simulation of decorative porcelain.

' HARRY M. LAXER. 

